Rope tag fastener



Oct. 4, 1960 H. J. MCMURRAY ROPE TAG FASTENER Filed Aug. 11, 1959 Herman J. McMurray INVENTOK.

9 By wdoa and ?Mg United States Patent O ROPE TAG FASTENER Herman J. McMur-ay, Mac-Ra Company, 427 State St., Santa Barbara, Calif.

Filed Aug. 11, 1959, Ser. No. s33,070 9 Claims.' (CI. 210-300) The present invention generally relates to a fastening device and more particularly to a rope fastener for se curing the ends of a rope necklace in encircling relation to the neck of animals such as cattle or the like with the fastener also serving to mount -an identification tag in Suspended relation below the neck of such an animal.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a rope and tag fastener which eifectively interconnects the ends of a rope necklace and also supports an identification tag.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a fastener in accordance with the preceding object in which it is only necessary to force or poke the free end of the rope through the fastener thus enabling the rope, fastener and' identification card to be mounted or assembled on the animal in a very expeditious and rapid manner.

Another important object of the present invention `is to provide a fastener in accordance with the preced- 'ing objects which has considerable weight for providing extra weight to the tag assemly for causing the light weight plastic tag'to hang straight down so that it is easily observed.

Another important feature of the present invention is to provide a rope and tag fastener in which the rope is constructed of nylon material and has a quiet hearing effect for the tag thereby eliminating all noise around the cattle and thus reducing the disturbance caused by noise normally associated with identification tags.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a rope tag fastener which is extremely simple in construction, easy to use, effective for securng the ends of the rope together, effective for supporting the tag, quiet in operation, dependable, long lasting, efiicient in use and generally inexpensive to manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of Construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Fgure 1 is a perspective View of the fastener of the present invention illustrating its use in conjunction with a rope necklace in encircling relation to the neck of an animal and supporting an identification tag;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the fastener per se;

Figure 3 is -a vertical sectional View taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 3--3 of Figure 1 illustrating the structure and relationship of the components of the assembly; and

Figure 4 is a transverse, vertical sectional View taken substantially *upon a plane passing along section line 4-4 of Figure 1 illustrating further structural details of the fastener and the assembly of the rope and tag together with the fastener.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral generally designates the rope tag fastener of the present invention which is used as assembling the Patented Oct. 4, 1960 fastener 10 Will assemble an identification tag 20 in supported relation from the rope necklace 16 so that the tag 20 may swivel freely about a generally horizontal axis disposed transversely of the animal and the identification tag 20 is constructed of plastic material and is provided with indicia 22 thereon for indicating certain information. For example, the tags 20 may be of various colors to indicate certain information and the indicia may be in the form of numerals indicating certain additional information. The lower portion of the tag 20 is larger than the upper portion and the upper portion is provided with an enlarged opening 24 extendng therethrough.

The fastener 10 is generally of inverted U-shaped construction and preferably is constructed of a metal resistant to corrosion and msting and having long lasting qualities. The fastener 10 includes an upper horizontal web or bight portion 26 having depending legs 28 and 30 disposed in parallel relation to each other and spaced from each other and disposed at the edges of the web or bght portion 26. The lower end of the leg 28 is provided with a circular plate 32 while the lower end of the leg 30 is provided with a circular plate 34 with the plates 32 and 34 being integral with the legs 28 and 30 respectively and lying in the same plane respectively and being disposed in spaced parallel relation to each other.

Each circular plate 32 and 34 is provided with a plurality of apertures with the apertures in the plate 32 being designated by the numeral 36 and the apertures in the plate 34 being designated by the numeral 38. The apertures 36 and 38 are in alignment with each other and each of .the plates 32 and 34 is provided with four apertures arranged in two horizontally spaced and aligned vertical rows as clearly illustrated in Figure 2. For example, one vertical row contains two apertures and the other vertical row contains two apertures with the apertures in each row being disposed above each other and in alignment with each other.

In assemblng the fastener and the tag, one end of the rope 16 is assembled with the tag and fastener in the shop by taking the rope necklace 16 in the hand and the free end 12 is inserted through the upper of one pair of apertures 38 and the upper of one pair of apertures 36 and then reversely bent as indicated by the numei-al 40 and then inserted back through the lower of the same pair of apertures 36 and the lower of the same pair of apertures 38 with' the free end 12 terminatiug on the same side from which the rope was inserted. When ready to assemble on an animal the rope is placed around the neck and the other free end 14 of the rope necklace 16 is inserted in from the other side of the fastener 10 and extended through the upper of the other pair of apertures 36 and 38 and then back through the lower of the same pair of apertures 38 and 36 With the free end 14 terminatng oppostely to the free end 12. Thns, the reverse folds and the close fitting and frictional relationship between the apertures 36 and 38 and the rope necklace 16 will cause a frictional lock for the rope thus retaining the rope in assembled relation and retaning the tag 20 in assembled relation. The spacing between the legs 28 and 30 and between the plates 32 and 34 is just suflicient to receive the tag 20 but yet permit free swing'ng movement of the tag 20. The portions of the rope extending through the apertures 36 and 38 forms a supporting hearing for the tag 20 and since the rope is constructed of nylon, the bearing will be silent and will not have any rattl'ng noise whatsoever. Further,

the device enables the *a'ssembling of the rope necklace without employing any tool whatsoever 'and without having any screw threaded or other type fasteners to come loose. Further, the metallic'stncture of the fastener carries considerable weight and the extra weight of the `fastener 10 will assure that the rope necklace 16 'will be disposed in the proper position with the tag assembly supported vertically below the neck 18 of the animal especially when the tag is constructed of lightweight plaster. The tags are also constructed of other materials `such as metal including aluminum and brass. When heavier metal tags are used, the combined weight of the tag and fastener assures proper positioning 'of the assembly.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, 'since numerous modifications and changes will readily 'occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the 'invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordngly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the inventon as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A fastener device for connecting the ends of a rope and supporting an identification tag therefrom coniprising a substantially inverted rigid U-shaped member having spaced parallel legs with each leg having two pairs of vertical rows of apertures whereby the ends of a rope may be threaded through the upper apertures in each row and reversely threaded through the lower apertures, the spacng between the legs of the inverted U- shaped member receiving a tag With the tag adapted to be received on that portion of the rope extending between the legs of the fastener.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said fastener is of one-piece Construction with that portion of the legs having the apertures therein being circular in configuration. I

3. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said fastener is of metallic Construction 'for providing additional weight to a rope necklace and tag assembly for maintaining the assembly in depending relation to the neck of an animal.

4. The structure as defined in claim 3 wherein the apertures in the inverted U-shaped fastener have a diameter sufficent to frictionally engage the free ends of the rope threaded therethrough for frictionally retaining the ends of the rope connected to the fastener.

5. A tag and rope necklace assembly comprising a flexible rope having free ends, an identification tag having an opening therein, and a fastener interconnecting the ends of the rope and supporting the tag, said fastener comprising an inverted U shaped member having spaced parallel legs receiving the tag therebetween with the spacng of the legs being sufficient to permt free Swinging movement of the tag, said legs of the inverted U- shaped member having four 'apertures therein with the apertures in the legs being aligned with each other, the four apertures in each leg being arranged in two pairs with the apertures in each pair being disposed above each other, the free ends of the rope being inserted through the respective upper apertures in the respective pairs from opposite sides of thefastener and then being reversely bent and inserted 'back throughthe lower apertures in each pair of apertures thereby frictionally locking the fastening device to the rope, that portion 'of the free ends of the `r`o`p`e extending between the legs of the inverted U-shapedin'emberalso extending through the tag for swingably supporting the tag from the rope and fastener.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said rope is constructed of plastic material and said tag is constructed ofplastic material whereby the materials and the bearing support of the rope for 'the tag will eliminate all rattling and noise of the tag.

7. The combination 'of claim 5 wherein said inverted U-shaped member is of unitary metallic Construction and having considerable weight whereby the additional weight of the fastener will retain the tag assembly in depending relation to the neck of an animal.

8. The combination of claim 5, wherein said tag is cons'tructed of metallic material, said fastener being constructed of metallic material whereby the combined weight of the tag and 'fastener will retain the tag assembly in depending relation to the neck of an animal.

'9. A rope necklace and connector assembly comprising a flexible rope having free ends and a connector interconnecting the ends of the rope, said connector comprising a U-shaped member of rigid Construction having spaced parallel legs, each of said legs having four apertures theren with the 'apertures in the legs being aligned with each other, the four 'apertures in each `leg -being arranged in two pairs with the apertures in each pair being disposed alongside each other, the free ends of 'the rope being inserted through aligned apertures in the `respective pairs from opposite sides of the connector and then being reversely bent and 'inserted back through -the aligned apertures alongside of the first mentioned aligned apertures in each pair of apertures thereby frictionally looking the connector to the rope thereby joinng the ends of the rope frictionally to the connector.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,246,499 Troja Nov. 13, 1917 1,503,410 Yates July 29, 1924 1,717,443 Flood ...2. June '18, 1929 2,805 ,499 Nutter Sept. 10, 1957 

